User Profile

Who's Online

Our Discord

WORLDFLIGHT 2019 - TEAM USA SUPPORTERS (HERO'S)

Worldflight 2019

Donations Starting Early

With 50 Days Left, it's time to start Counting Down to Worldflight 2019. Beginning in August, we had 2 kind gentleman lead the way on our quest for donations to this amazing Charity Event. Over the Past 6 Years, we (This community) Has helped to raise over $25,000.00USD to help the kids and their families of the All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburgh, Florida. Kicking off the donations this year these Two Hero's are leading the way to another Successful Year. I personally want to thank these two Gentleman and use this opportunity to have all of you donate to our wonderful cause.

Thank you in advance for your help and please wish us much success for our 2019 event.

Got the materials for my curved projector screen frame today. Took apart our old trampoline and got some 1 1/2 conduit from Menards. Tomorrow I'll be assembling the frame and taking measurements so I can order the screen from Carl's Place DIY Screens.

Also got the temporary mounts up for the three projectors. Just aquired my last darbee 1080GT last week for a heck of a deal.

Glad to see you're getting things done during this time of the year, where everything pulls us away from building...like nice weather, vacations and such.

Even though things have been crazy for Karen and I; especially, with all the previous winter weather, now too much darn rain, we managed to get the projector screen stand made. Well, the local welding shop did it for us, using the specs from my previous homemade built stand. Got it home this past Friday.

Took just a few days. And, it's made to be taken a part into 3 sections. We just have to clean and paint it, then mount the screen.

Regarding my sim project, I ordered and received some sheet metal from a local company that makes metal siding for sheds and metal residential roofs.

Basically, they're flat 29 gauge sheets without profiles/ridges and they're 12'x42", plus it's all black. Thus, I plan to rivet this to the inside curve of the projector screen stand, then attach the actual white screen after that. This will prevent light from going through the screen and bouncing back towards it causing reflective ghosting effects. Also, I will make a top of sorts to keep the light inwards towards the screen.

Lastly, I plan to order more metal like this to use for covering the back section of the sim and the exterior of sub-floor box....

Added 6 more feet to the screen this weekend, making it a full 220-degrees viewing area now. I've yet to re-align the projectors though. That will come tonight. It's tedious work.

Side doors are still a work in progress. Co-pilot side is finished and has that cool 1979 retro look to it including some teak-wood trim..

Carenado released v1.2 of the Beech 1900D a few days ago with (Drumroll please!) Landing/taxi lights that actually illuminate the ground! No more taxiing around blindly at night.

Permanently installed the Stream server. No more tripping over wires.

Installed a new GoPro 7 Black camera for streaming. A bit more resolution than the old GoPro 5 and better low-light sensitivity.

Avidyne PFD: Added ADF capability (Yes I use it sometimes because it's fun!). Bumped around some colors after ripping the hex color codes from the operations manual. Also added the ability to run the PFD as a Master or Remote unit. I use the remote for streaming so I don't have to mess with it during flight.

Finished my radio stack by fitting the last switch panel to my collection. Will tidy up the USB cables for GoFlight modules and leobodnar card by utilizing a powered usb hub. Next will be finishing behind the glareshield.

Likely this would go under the hanger section, but really it is for the simulator... Just got a new DIY Mr Cool 36,000 BTU Mini-Split AC/Heat unit yesterday and took it out of the box last night.

This is a big unit for sure and it's DIY, which saves a lot of money. $2,700 vs $7,000 and $12,000 quotes I got. Not debating the pros and cons of DIY vs Pro install, just want too list the prices. I will say that if anyone can build a simulator, then anyone can install one of these Mr Cool units.

Only issue of concern is mounting to steel interior walls. With ridges in the metal I have to figure out what to use behind the actual unit mounting brackets.

I will post a few pics later. In the mean time, if you're thinking about AC/Heat for your simulator and it's room, take a look at the Mr Cool units. Mine came from Home Depot here:

This unit is really for the building, but since my sim is in it I was just making a tie-in for the forum posting. I should've posted this news in the hanger thread...lol!

Regarding the sim, I already have a smaller AC unit, server room style. Also, I have all the real piping that goes in between the aft cockpit bulkhead wall; kind of like a big Y/Curved shaped ducting pipe, as well as the ducting for the MIP.

Kind Regards,

John

PS You know Bernard, it would be awesome if you started making YouTube videos regarding your sim. Things like this...AC units, ducting and piping would make a great tutorial, amongst all the other topics you're very knowledgable on. Maybe, you could enlist some family members too help out...

Care to share your 3d print file and where did you buy the small lcd screen, as well as how are you interfacing it; vga, hdmi, usb display plug or what method?

John

Hey John, sorry just saw your reply now. It's not ready for prime-time yet. Still some additional design/integration work to do and some weak areas in the 3D print I need to fix. Working on it when I have time. When It's ready I'll put the file out there.

Glad to see you progressing on this and if there is anything I or others on Cockpit Builders can help with, just give a shout out. There are many great folks here that love too assist fellow builders...

What perfecting timing! Your laser cut items look great and is leading me towards getting a laser cutter all the more. Karen and I have been talking about starting with a smaller one at first, like the K40. Here is a great video channel of someone doing an A10 Warthog and his laser cutter unit:

Finished throttle handles & made a prototype "J-Rails" using 2 sets of Sparco rails for my Ipeco seats. It works quite well (longitudinal & lateral) and smoothly without any loose movements to any direction. Now waiting for finishing and painting. These will do the job until i can find pair of manual 767 seats with OEM rails.